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Sunday, November 18, 2012

Team Motivator

Hello All, My name is Shannon Harris. I have been involved in
childcare for the last 23 years and now own my own center, ABC Academy LLC in Montgomery --www.abcmontgomery.com, ---Texas
with approximately 230 children currently enrolled. I met Debbie Clement in Las Vegas and was
immediately captivated by her and knew this was energy I wanted in my life. Debbie
recently came to our area to conduct a full day “Lyrics to Literacy” training
and we had some down time to visit. Debbie shared some of her ideas with me. I
told her I loved her blog and would hope to see more management and infant blog
post (I feel there is just not enough out there on those two topics). She
invited me to write for her blog once a month, so, here I am!

So, this is it - my first EVER Blog POST… I have built my
business by looking for “out of the box” ideas in every aspect of our center
and team. We have recently started a new TEAM MOTIVATOR at our center. The idea
behind it is that praise gets positive results. I believe that when the praise
comes from peers and management it just makes for a happier center. So, how do
we accomplish this? Well, I went and bought each classroom a cheap container,
with a lid to avoid spills and little hands getting in the container; bought
some small marshmallows…cheap, $1 a BIG bag at the dollar store … considered M&M’s
but wow they are expensive (candy corn/seasonal candies and peanuts are good
ideas too)!Then made little baggies
with the teacher’s names, a sticky to tally where they hand out the treats, and
filled each baggie with 50 treats each. Then handed them out with this little
note…

We are excited to announce our first Team
Motivator – be the first to have your container filled from OTHER staff members
outside your classroom for them seeing something wonderful being done in your
classroom, on the playground, transitioning, helping others, etc. –
Administration will add to your containers too! Winner gets an hour on
the clock to go do whatever they like while Administration runs your
classroom!!

Each staff member will be given a “baggie”
of 50 items to use to fill other classroom containers. You put 1 item in
a classroom container each time you see them doing something wonderful!
Write down the class that you complimented with your item!Classroom containers will be picked up at
RANDOM! There is no “cut-off” date or “due” date. Items in containers
will be counted and the winning teachers in that classroom will each get a “Get
Out Of Your Classroom – 1 Hour Pass” from Administration!

I decided to have them quickly tally which class they gave it
to so that we could ensure they were not playing favorites and always giving to
their “favorite” teacher. We really wanted it to be about building up each
other and to get them to compliment some classes they may not otherwise take
the time to do.

For an extra little twist, we gave Management Candy Corns to
pass out and teachers Marshmallows so they could see the difference in their containers.

I am excited about writing this blog post monthly and hope you
all find some value in seeing some administrative and infant content.